Exclusive: Charles Billi Leaving WSVN

Just got news that WSVN anchor Charles Billi will be leaving the station in February 2011. A memo went out to everyone at WSVN today announcing his departure. I’m told he plans to focus on his net venture BigTampa.com.

Charles Billi joined WSVN as a reporter in 1998, they promoted him to an anchor of the weekend newscasts when Charles Perez left WSVN for the ABC affiliate in New York City. Billi got promoted again in 2008 to weekdays alongside Lynn Martinez when then WSVN anchor Tom Haynes left for the FOX affiliate in Atlanta, Georgia.

The internet tubes win again.

More as we get it

/hat tip to all who sent us the news/

memo sent to staff after the jumpAlice Jacobs, VP of News, Sunbeam TV

After 12 years together, Charles Billi and 7 News have decided to part ways. Charles is now going to devote his time to his new endeavor, BIGTAMPA.COM.Tampa’s first and only cosmopolitan flash website. Charles has been working on this for quite a while, and it’s his dream to promote Tampa and everything it has to offer. He will be moving to Tampa at some point, but will remain with 7 News until February. We wish Charles all the best – we know he’ll be successful in this new adventure.

Speculating on his replacement is very relevant, because if Reed is to be promoted, a decision on the weekend slot should be made concurrently or even before. Right now WSVN is the only station in the market even remotely concerned with putting on a competent newscast on the weekends. The others just trot out glorified interns(or worse: Jen Herrera). And Ch 6 has pulled off the impossilbe by making an Asian woman seem dumb.

look our for reid lamberty. he anchored in nyc and is currently just freelancing with 7 so he can devote more time to his family here in miami. would not be shocked if he gets a fulltime job as an anchor. he’s solid!

charles did his best to bad mouth WSVN whenever he could. I’m surprised they even made him an anchor. His paper flipping made me sick. drama queen. he invented the “in your face style” in another market, just ask him. reed lamberty is the man

The black girl?! She has a name ya’ know! Robbin Simmons and I agree, she’s great but I don’t know if WSVN will pair two women anchors in the evening. Lamberty and Cowan are two great options to have. Either choice would be brilliant.

This should be VERY interesting. Because Cowen moved to weekends the same week Billi moved to weekdays from weekends, COWEN’s contract is also up very soon and I hear he has two major offers/stations on the west coast trying to get him. You may just see TWO anchor openings at SVN. Just sayin’ ballers. Could be good for both spermin bermin and that guy who was dumped by NYC and ended up chasin’ a girl all the way to Miami.

If you read this site, I’m a big fan of your work. like Rosh, Reed, and Derrick you are one of the dynamite reporters of the station. You really know how to bring it home and you break all your stories down so even a toddler can understand. You will be missed. Well done.

On to his replacement…

Reid Lamberty : Although he is polished, he does nothing for WSVN’s “show me” style. Dull and boring as a reporter. He doesn’t deserve the anchor chair. He hasn’t had time to grow in the community and doesn’t quite fit Miami yet.

Cowan: Dynamite Anchor/reporter. Although that would mean less street time which he,Rosh and Billi are known for rocking every story.

Burman: HELL NO! ratings would drop BIG TIME. He and Lynn wouldn’t complement in looks or personality. Keep him on the street, better as a reporter

I would even suggest Andre Hepkins instead who is the WORST REPORTER/PERSONALITY i’ve EVER seen in news. (I switch channels everytime he comes on.) But I’ve seen him fill in anchor and he’s not half bad. The other stations have a black anchor….

So it’s good bye Billi…looked at that BigTampa website, not very good, limited content, info just photos. A bunch of photos of gay bodybuilders and strippers called hotties . Doesn’t look like Tampa is very “hot” by looks of those folks. And “hotties” love that word –very 80’s.

I have to disagree Ivan–I think the BigTampa website is new and innovative. It’s visual and creative. not sure those”hot” people are representative of people in Tampa but beauty has many faces. I am sure Charles Billi will be successful with that website.

I have watched Charles Billi for years on Channel 7 and have always thought he is very professional and interesting. He will be missed. I have also seen BigTampa.com and think it is great!! Best of luck to Charles!!!

Why all this negative stuff? TV people are the worst. Wish the guy luck, he’s going after something new and taking a jump into a new field. Good for him. Easy to sit back and criticize him.. It has no merit. Feeling that Charles may prove all his critics wrong

Good Riddance Chuck Billy! What a tool. Pompous and stiff. He was the main reason (and Belkys) I couldn’t watch channel 7 anymore. Lynn is great. Serious when necessary, but much more interesting and fun to watch. But hey, that’s just me.

Won’t miss him one bit! He’s so full of himself. Hopefully this “venture” will give him a much needed reality check and he will come down to earth. If Yahoo! can’t make money what makes Chucky think that his swampy website is going to pay the light bill.